Apparatus for handling and shearing metal strip



May 3, 1932. c. G. oHLso'N 1,856,11

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHEARINGMETL STRIP Filed Aug. 13. 1930wf/vra@ Cfaz'/ G. Off/50a,

WITNESS n .gy W

@Taw- V @yf firme/vers Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES CARL G.OHLSON, 0F YOUNGSTOWN,

PATENT OFFICE OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE YOUNGSTOWN' SHEET AND APPARATUS FORHANDLING AND SHEARIN G METAL STRIP Application led August 13, i930.Serial 110.474,931.

lll/Iy invention relates to thc handling of steel or other metallicstrip after it is delivered trom the mill in which it is rolled,thegeneral purpose of the invention being to facilitate the handling andcutting up oi' the strip, to reduce the initial costof the apparatusnecessary therefor, and to minimize the operating costs incidentthereto.

l shall herein refer more particularly to the practice of the inventionin connection with the manufacture of steel strip as the invention isparticularly applicable thereto, although it may frequently beadvantageously utilized in l connection with other sorts of metal strip.

lli

Steel strip is delivered from the strip mill in long lengths and Withextreme rapidity, a strip 300 feet long being,r frequently runout fromthe mill every forty seconds. It is therefore impossible to level andshear the strip upon the run-out table since the succeeding?J stripwould be delivered thereto before completion of the said operations onthe preceding' one. Various expediente have consequently-been suggestedfor overcoming this diiliculty, a common one being' to lift each stripfrom the run-out table and transport it to a suitable point or levelingand shearing by means of a crane of substantially the same length as thestrip and having hooks for engaging the strip disposed at shortintervals, thus clearing the run-out table for the reception of thefollowing strip. Owingr to their large size these cranes are extremelyexpensive as Well as unhandy and diflicult to inanage so that their use,while reasonably effective 'tor accomplishing the desired result ofclearing the run-out table, is not particularly satisfactory.

An object of the present Yinvention theretore, is to provide a novelform of apparatus for handling the strips as they are delivered from.the mill which is not open to the disadvant-ages inherent in apparatusheretofore employed for the purpose. Further objects of the inventionare to provide apparatus ofthe character aforesaid by means of which thestrips can be very readily,rapidly and econom' ically leveled andsheared into relatively short lengths preparatory to piling and which isof relatively simple construction and comrapidity of action,

simplicity, is more satisfactory than any other means of handling thestrips which, so`

far as I am aware, gested.

Other objects, advantages, operations and novel features comprehended bythe invention are hereinafter more particularly pointu ed out or will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following description ofone form of apparatus embodying,r the invention and diagrammaticallyshown in the accompanying drawing; it is to be understood, however, thatother forms of apparatus may be utilized if preferred.

ln the said drawing, the single fi ure is a diagrammatic plan view ofthe sai apparirtus, which essentially comprises a run-out table, aseries of parallel conveyor tables, a series of transfer tables and aplurality of shears, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring now to the drawing, it will of course be understood that thestrips are delivered successively b the delivery rolls D or othermechanism embodied in the mill onto the usual run-out table l which islong enough to receive and support each strip and may thus, for example,be something over 300 in length. It is from this-table that inaccordance with the usual ractice heretofore in vogue, the stri is b ilylifted by the crane or other suitab e means and conveyed to some otherpoint for leveling andshearing immediately after it is run out.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide at a suitable outtable 1, a shear shear the strip on the runout table at a predeterminedpoint, desirably, in accordance with the preferred practice of theinvention, at a point about one-third of the way from has heretoforebeen sugpoint adjacent the runes 2 which is adapted to the leading endof the strip to its rear end, so that after this shearing operation, theunsheared portion of the strip comprises about two-thirds of the initiallength of the latter and the sheared portion a out one-third. Adjacentthe forward end of the run-out table 1, that is, the end most remotefrom the delivery mechanism D, l provide a transfer table 3 which isadapted to transfer the slieared ortion of the strip to a conveyor tableet disposed parallel to the run-out table and overlapping the forwardend of the lat ter to a point substantially transversely aligned withthe shear 2 which is desirably located in a fixed position. Thisconveyor table 4 extends beneath a shear 5 a short distance in front ofa il'ing machine 6 or other mechanism ada ted) to pile or ptherwisedispose of the re atively short ieces of the shearedportion of the stripa ter the latter has'been progressively cut up by the shear 5 as it iscarried beneath that sliiear on the table 4. Desirably a leveler 7 ofany suitable construction is disposed adjacent the conveyor table 4 at apoint about in transverse ali ment with the forward end of the runouttable so that as the sheared portion of the strip, after transference tothe table 4, is carried toward the shear 5, 1t will pass beneath theleveler and be operated upon by the latter in the usual way.

It will thus be apparent that in accordance with my invention, thesheared portion of the strip, after being cut off by the shear 2, ismoved on the table 3 to the conveying table 4 and then run down thelatter beneath the leveler 7 to the shear 5 at which point it is severedinto a plurality of short pieces of the length ultimately desired which.are then carried Ato the iler 6 for piling orother disposition in t eordina way.

Adjacent the run-out tab e 1 and extending i. substantially between therear end thereof "and the shear 2 and on the same side of the table asthe transfer table 3, I provide another transfer `table 8 adapted totransfer the unsheared portion of the strip to 'a second conveyor table9 extending parallel to the table 4.- froin a Joint adjacent the rearend of the run-out vta le to a point preferably in line with the forwardend of the table 4. Adjacent this table, so as to operate upon a stripas it is transported longitudinally therealong, a leveling machine 7 ispreferably provided about in transverse alignment with the levelingmachine 7, while a shear 5 and piling machine 6 are also arrangedadjacent the forward end of the table, preferably respectively intransverse alignment with the shear 5 and piler 6. I also provideanother shear l0 more nearly adjacent the rear end of the table 9,desirably about midway between the rear end of the table and the pointthereof transversely aligned with the shear 2, the shear 10 beingadapted 4to shear the theretofore unsheared portion of the stripimmediately after it is carried to the table 9 through the medium of thetransfer table 8,

thus dividing the said unsheared portion into two, preferablysubstantially equal, parts.

Adjacent the conveyor table 9 and on the opposite side thereof from thetable 4, I also provide still another conveyor table 11 extendingparallel to the other conveyor tables and desirably from apoint a littlebehind the shear 10 to a point o posite their forward ends, a shear 5and piler 6 being arranged adjacent the table 11 in`alignment with theother corresponding shears and pilers, while a leveler 7 may be disposedabout opposite the shear 2. For transporting the leading or forwardportion of the strip to the table 11 after it has been cut olf by theshear 10, a third transfer table 12 is arranged between the rear portionof the table 11 and the table 9. f

The specific form and construction of th shears, levelers, transfer,conveying and runout tables is a matter of choice and consequently anypreferred type of apparatus embodying my invention may be employedtherefor as long as the same is satisfactorily operative for theperformance of its intended function in accordance therewith.

In the operation of apparatus arranged and may desirably be arranged soasto locate the. strip beneath the shear 2 with approximately' one-thirdof the strip in front of the shear and two-thirds of the strip in rearthereof. The shear is now operated so as to sever the strip and thesevered portion is immediately tra-nsferred by means of `the transfertable 3 to the conveyor table 4 along which it is then moved in thedirection of the arrow adjacent thereto beneath tlie leveler 7 andthence to the shear 5 where it is progressively cut up into the desiredshort lengths which are then` consecutively received by the piler 6 inthe usual way. Likewise, as soon as the strip has been cut by the shear2, the unsevered or rear portion thereof is moved by means of thetransfer table 8 to the conveyor table 9 and thus beneath the shear 10.This table may, if desired, be provided with an adjustable stop 14disposed at a suitable point to correctly locate the strip withreference to the shear, and after the strip is disposed on the table thelatter may be momentarily op- 'l erated in one direction or the other soas to bring an end of the strip against the stop. Under many conditionsof operation, howthe other portions ever, the stop may he entirelydispensed with,-

particularly when the character of the trans- 'er table is such as toavoid any material longitudinal movement of the unsevered portion of thestrip as it is translated to table 9.

After the strip is properly positioned on this table, the shear l0 isoperated so as to cut the strip in two portions preferably ofsubstantially similar length. The leading or forward one of these twoportions is then immediately moved by means of the transfer table l2 tothe conveyor table 1l along which it is carried beneath the leveler 7 tothe shear 5 Where it is cut into the desired short lengths and thelatter transferred to the piler 6". As soon as the ortion of the stripjustreferred to is out o the Way, the second or rearmost portion is thenmoved forward on the conveyor table 9 beneath the lever 7 and then to'the shear 5 Where :it is successively shear-ed and piled similarly toof the strip.

Thus, under normal operating conditions, the strip remains on therun-out table only so long as. is required to shear it with the shear 2,and consequently the run-out table can be very readily cleared of thestrip in ample time to permit delivery thereon ofthe sncceedingstrip,while thelength of the conveyor and transfer tables and the speed atwhich they are operated is so calculated that those parts of each ofthem which are respectively designed to receive a portion of the stripfrom the preceding mechanism, Whatever it may happen to be, are alwaysclear for its reception before the said portion arrives. n

lt will thus be apparent that in accordance with my invention each stripafter being disposed on the run-out table is successively divided into aplurality of relatively long "lengths and that each of these lengths isthen separately leveled and finally progressively cut into relativelyshort pieces0 This method of handling the strip is therefore entirely atvariance with the ordinary method in which the strip is bodily conveyedfrom the run-out table and then leveled and progressively cut into therelatively short pieces ultimately desired` without any intern mediatecutting into relatively long lengths which are thereafter separatelyleveled and cnt. Moreover, it will be understood that while under mostconditions the strips may he, handled in accordance with my inventionwith a maximum of convenience and speed by providing, as shown in thedrawing, three conveying tables and successively cutting the strip intothree parts respectively adapted to he handled thereon, under certaincircumstances it may be preferred to provide a greater or less number ofconveyor tables and to cnt thestrips into a corresponding numher ofparts, and such an arrangement is entirely Within tite purview of theinvention.

It will be further understood that the shears 2 and l() are desirablyarranged in permanently fixed relation with their respective conveyortables and the latter vided vvith suitable movable stopssuch as 13 and14 to facilitate the proper positioning of different length strips orpieces thereon with res ect to the shears, this arrangement being avantageous in that it avoids the necessity for moving the relativelyheav shears longitudinally of the tables in accordi-I ance with therequirements of different classes of Work, While the fact that alllifting of the strips is obviated is ofadvantage in the handling of Widestrips and particularly adapts the invention for that class of Work.

While I have herein described with considerable particularity apreferred embodiment of my invention, as the initial as Well as theoperating cost thereof is relatively low, I do not thereby desire orintend to specifically limit or confine myself thereto, as the same iscapable various particulars to meet different operating requirements orfor like reasons, while other forms of apparatus than that tovvhich havechosen to specifically refer ma fbe utilized if preferred, withoutdeparting rom the spirit and scope of the invention as delined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent of the United States:

l. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a plurality ofconveyor tables disposed parallel to and respectively at differentdistances from the'` run-out table, a shear associated with the run-outtable adapted to sever a strip disposed thereon, a transfer tableadapted to transfer the severed portion of the strip to one of saidconveyor tables, a transfer table adapted to transfer the unseveredportion of the strip to another of said tables, a shear associated withthe last mentioned table adapted to sever said unsevered portion Whiledisposed thereon, and a transfer table operative to transfer ontoanother of said conveyor tables one portion of said unsevered portionafter the said shear has acted thereon.

2. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a conveyor tableparallel to and laterally offset with respect to the run-out table, ashear adapted to sever a strip on the run-out table, transfer mechanismoperative to move the severed portion of the strip to said conveyortable, a second conveyor table parallel to and laterally odset from thefirst conveyor table, transfer mechanism operative to move the unseveredportion of the strip thereto, .a shear associated with said tableadapted to of modifications in sever the unsevered portion of the stripwhen disposed thereon, a third conveyor table parallel to and laterallyollset with respect to the last mentioned conveyor table, and transfermechanism operative to move one of the portions of the unsevered stripthereto from the second conveyor table a ter said strip has been severedthereon by said shear.

3. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a plurality ofconveyor tables extending parallel to the run-out table and disposed atdifferent distances therefrom, a shear associated with the run-outtable, a shear associated with one of the conveyor tables, transfermechanism operative" to transfer from the run-out table to the mostnearly adjacent conveyor tables separate portions of the strip after ithas been sheared on the run-out table by the shear associated therewith,and other transfer mechanism adapted to transfer another portion of thestrip to another of said conveyor tables after yit has been sheared onthat conveyor table having the second mentioned shear associatedtherewith.

4. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a series of conveyortables arranged parallel to and at different distances from the run-outtable, a shear associated with the run-out table, a shear associatedwith one of the conveyor tables lying between two of the other conveyortables, transfer mechanism extending between the run-out table and thetwo conveyor tables most near adjacent thereto and a plurality of shearsrespectively associated with the several conveyor tables adjacent theends thereof remote from the receiving end of the run-out table andadapted to progressively shear the strip material as it is moved beneaththem on said conveyor tables.

5. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, shearing meansassociated therewith, a conveyor table parallel to, laterally spacedfrom and partially .overlapping the run-out table, transfer mechanismextending between the runout table and said conveyor table, a secondconveyor table parallel to the other table but more remote from therun-out table and substantially overlapping the latter, shearing meansassociated therewith in alignment with the run-out table, transfermechanism extending between said table and the run-out table, a thirdconveyor table parallel to the other tables but still more-remote fromthe run-out table, and transfer mechanism extending between said tableand the second mentioned conveyor table.

6. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a conveyor tableparallel to, laterally spaced from and partially overlapping the run-outtable, transfer mechanism extending between the runout tablea-nd saidconveyor table, a second conveyor table parallel to the other table butmore remote from the run-out table and substantially overlapping thelatter, transfer mechanism extending between said table and the run-outtable, a third conveyor table parallel to the other tables but stillmore remote from the run-out table,` transfer mech*- anism extendingbetween said table and the second mentioned conveyor table, a shearassociated with the run-out table, a shear associated with the secondconveyor table in transverse alignment with the run-out table, and ashear associated with each conveyor table adjacent that end thereof mostremote from the receiving end of the runout table and adapted toprogressively shear strip material as it is moved along said conveyortables. j

7. Apparatus for handling elongated metal strips comprising a run-outtable adapted to consecutively receive the strips, a conveyor tableparallel to. laterally spaced from and partially overlapping the run-outtable, transfer mechanism extending between the run-out table and saidconveyor table, a second conveyor table parallel to the other table butmore remote from the runout table and substantiallyY overlapping thelatter, transfer mechanism extending between said table and the run-outtable, a third conveyor table parallel to the other tables but stillmore remote from the run-out table, transfer mechanism extending betweensaid table and the second mentioned conveyor table, a shear associatedwith the run-but table, a shear associated with the second conveyortable in transverse alignment with the run-out table, and a leveler anda shear associated with each conveyor table and respectively adapted tooperate on strip material while moving longitudinally therealong.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of August,1930.

CARL G. OHLSON.

